Since ancient times, the birth of identical twins has been shrouded in mystery. Multiple births are the subject of countless myths and folktales across different cultures— for instance, Native Americans believe that in a pair of twins, one is always good while the other is evil, ultimately being expelled from the tribe. On the contrary, within Yoruba mythology, it is believed that identical twins are magical, and share a single soul. The latter is the central focus of Nigerian street style photographer Stephen Tayo‘s latest photography exhibition, entitled “Ibeji”. The exhibit, which is currently on display at Lagos’s Rele Gallery until March, takes its name from the African Yoruba tribe’s “orisha” or diety, that serves as the patron of multiple births.”Unlike other Nigerian pre-colonial cultures who saw multiple births as a biological omen and a portent of bad will, the Yoruba celebrated twinship as a portent of good blessings and served to appease twins,” explained Tayo to Vogue.me over email.
A curious, but little-known fact is that the rate of twin births in West Africa is about four times higher than in the rest of the world, with more twins born in Igbo-Ora, a southwest town in Nigeria, than anywhere else in the world. Perhaps this is why the discourse of duality is rooted so deep within the Nigerian culture. “The fundamental awe of twins and twinship is still highly valued in Yoruba land, and in Nigeria as a whole as Yoruba culture permeates the rest of the country,” states the 24-year-old, who has been taking photos since he was a philosophy major at university.
The photography series, which Tayo describes as his attempt to reassess everything he has come to believe about twins, features striking portraits of 11 sets of identical twins of different genders and age groups. The visuals were shot around various neighborhoods in Lagos, including Ikorodu (where Tayo grew up), Ketu, and Somolu, over a course of six-months. The portraits are all self-styled, with the siblings choosing near-identical outfits and posing similarly, further reflecting their togetherness. Still, Tayo does a flawless job in translating their individuality too. “My photography series seeks to explore the psychological impact of having to share kinship with and have one’s identity defined by another,” explains Tayo. “I also wanted to explore the relationship a photographer can have with multiple subjects, when the subjects have had near identical influences and upbringings,” he muses.
Take a look at the captivating photography series in the gallery above.
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